Preliminary investigation of the inhibitory effects of the tyroservaltide (YSV) tripeptide on human hepatocarcinoma BEL-7402

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of tyroservaltide (YSV) on the human hepatocarcinoma Bel-7402 transplanted into nude mice and to explore its possible anti-tumor mechanism. Nude mice bearing xenografts of the human BEL-7402 hepatoma were given daily i.p. injections of YSV or saline (as a control) after the tumor were transplanted. Calculating tumor volume and measuring tumor weight determined the extent of inhibition of xenografts. The ultrastructure of tumor cells was observed by electron microscopy. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in tissues of the YSV-treated group was observed by immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis of tumor tissue cells was assayed by the terminal transferase uridyl nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. At doses of 80 ?g/kg/d and 160 ?g/kg/d, YSV could significantly inhibit growth of tumors transplanted into nude mice, with inhibition rates of 60% and 64%, respectively, compared with that of the controls (P